Update from WCG Philippines

A weekly e-mail newsletter from the Worldwide Church of God - Philippines

April 13, 2007

108 Youths Attend SEP in Mindanao, 35 Campers Baptized

This year's Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) in Mindanao was held at Midway White Beach Resort in Initao, Misamis Oriental last April 5-9, 2007 during the "Holy Week" season. It was planned to have 80 campers but as it turned out, 108 campers attended from all over Mindanao with one camper coming from Luzon.

God blessed this site with about 70% of the campers having attended SEP for the first time. The gospel has surely been shared and the gospel's seed surely planted in the young hearts and minds of the campers. Several of those who were baptized at this camp confided that they attended SEP once or twice before having finally decided to be baptized this year. This would indicate quality conversions and baptisms. Of the 108 campers, 35 youths decided to be baptized. Materials for the devotionals and Christian Living classes were taken from the Generations material from the WCG website.

During the camp, a "camp director's training" was also held simultaneously to prepare the leaders in the Zamboanga area headed by Pastor Bert Colona to be able to organize an SEP camp in their area in the near future. A staff training was also held for all SEP staff members just before the camp to ensure that the staff knew what were expected of them.  

The staff this year headed by camp director Jerome Manriquez did an excellent job and the teamwork, unity, cooperation and the absence of competition among the staff was clearly evident. God blessed the camp with good food, air-conditioned bedrooms for all campers and staff and a wonderful site beside the beach. God also blessed the camp with adequate funds. The Lord surely blessed the camp this year! Thanks be to God!

We would also like to give special thanks to our loyal donors and the Jon Whitney Foundation for their continued support every year. Your continued partnership in the gospel is much appreciated. --Len Joson, Mindanao Area Superintendent

WCG Philippines Enters into a Training MOA with ASDECS

To provide pastors and leaders of the denomination access to an equivalent graduate level seminary training program, WCG Philippines entered into a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Asian School Development and Cross-Cultural Studies (ASDECS).  The MoA signing held on April 3 at the national office of the Worldwide Church of God enables the denomination to offer a Masters in Intercultural Studies and Ministry (MISM) program in partnership with ASDECS.

According to the MoA, ASDECS and WCG will offer the masters degree program among WCG pastors, missionaries and church to prepare them for intercultural ministries, as well as ministries in the churches. The program requires 39 units for graduation.

Mrs. Joy Torres, ASDECS Academic Dean, signed on behalf of ASDECS while national director Eugene Guzon and Dr. Rey Taniajura signed on behalf of WCG. Dr. Taniajura will serve as academic coordinator and dean for the (MISM) program. ASDECS has already offered its masters in development management program in other Asian countries such as Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.

Announcement for the National Women's Convention

With less than a month to go, we are sending out some reminders to help ensure the success of our convention.  (1)  Register now for our convention which will take place on May 2-5, 2007 at the Asia Pacific Theological Seminary (APTS).  Address is #444 Ambuklao Road, Baguio City.  Deadline for registration is on April 20. (2) Submit to church office  your native/folk dance number for our Filipiniana Night and a write-up of the dance, which we will compile in a powerpoint presentation.  Participants will be in a Philippine regional costume that befits the dance number to be presented.  We will not include impromptu numbers. (3) Inform church office how many women in your area will join the half-day Baguio City tour.  Fee is P115 per person.  This is not included in the registration fee.  Deadline for submission is also on April 20. Please continue to pray for the protection of our speakers and participants, as they travel from international areas and different provinces, as well as the overall blessing of the Lord upon our women's convention.  Thank you! --Lulu Guzon

Daet Church Senior Pastor Ordained as Elder

Rey Salayon, Food for the Soul Christian Fellowship (FSCF, Daet) senior pastor and chairman of its pastoral team, was ordained as elder last March 25 in Tanauan, Capalonga, Camarines Norte. Area superintendent for Southern Luzon, Dr. Rey Taniajura, performed the ordination service.

The ordination coincided with the first anniversary celebration of the mission outreaches in Tanauan and Magsaysay in Capalonga town. The two mission outreaches were started by Mrs. Belen Beruega, a resident of Capalonga and member of the pastoral team of FSCF in Daet. Mrs. Beruega felt a “burden” to start the outreaches in her town after completing the Condensed World Missions Course (CWMC) and the Evangelism Explosion training program.

In addition to Pastor Rey’s ordination, the anniversary celebration was also highlighted by the baptisms of nine new members of the two outreaches. Since the founding of the outreaches a year ago, already 20 baptisms were conducted in the area. The regular attendance of each of these missions outreaches averages from 13 to 36.

17 Bulacan Leaders Complete FCL-1

Seventeen leaders from Bulacan churches and outreaches completed conference one of the Foundations for Christian Leadership (FCL) in Baliuag, Bulacan last March 31. As a non-degree training and equipping program for pastors and church workers who are unable to go to Bible schools or seminars, FCL was developed as an extension training program of the International School of Theology – Asia.

The subjects that were taken up in FCL 1 are, (1) Understanding the Church, (2) Building a Spiritual Movement, (3) Mobilizing Small Groups, (4) Transforming Bible Study, and (5) Preaching Biblically. The leaders who completed FCLI plan to continue with FCL conference 2 in mid-April. They are Pepito Lunzaga, Renato Villena, Zenaida Hernandez, Jessica Torres, Felina Geocada, Fe Carolina Sison, Zenaida Bernardino, Emilio Cabigao, Patricia Cabigao, Marivic Manuel, Dolores Tomacruz, Dennis Flor, Fernando Baltazar, Shardae, Francisco, Gervacio Faustino, Virgilio Manuel, and Roxano Sedonio.

NewLife Fellowship Church in Pasadena has provided encouragement and support for the holding of the FCL in Bulacan.

Ambassador School for Children 3rd Moving – Up Day

ASC held its 3rd Moving – Up Day (Graduation-Recognition Day) at the WCG Office main hall last Tuesday afternoon, March 27, 2007. Six energetic and bubbly Preparatory Level pupils accepted their Preschool Diplomas for the SY 2006 – 2007. The other 13 pupils were also given recognition for their academic achievements.  Half of the graduates have already indicated that they will still stay with us for Grade 1.

ASC Moving – Up Day deviated from the tradition of having a guest speaker, instead 6 selected parents were requested to give the inspirational talk. “For who else could give more and better inspiration to the other parents and children than the parents themselves?”  These parents gave their testimonial speeches on how the school (ASC) affected their children’s developmental progress---cognitively, spiritually, socially and physically.

The Moving Up Rites was followed by a dinner afterwards. --Adora G. Angel-Barnachea 

Iligan City Elder's Daughter is Magna Cum Laude

Christine Adelle Rico, eldest daughter of Iligan City Church elder Cristito Rico, graduated in BS Physics with honors as Magna cum Laude at the Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) this last week of March 2007. Aside from her academic achievements, she is also active with the Ayala Young Leaders getting involved with the less-privileged youths in Mindanao. She has been very active as a youth leader in her local church and as the current youth coordinator for Mindanao. 

She hopes to begin working with a company owned by the Ayala Corporation in Manila soon. Adelle grew up in the church since childhood.

In a simple celebration last April 1, the Iligan City Church celebrated its 21st anniversary as a church and rejoiced at all the achievements of several graduates this year in the local church. Mindanao Area Superintendent Len Joson graced the special occasion.

WCG Member Tops 2006 Computer School Graduates

Mark David V. Cabigao, a member of Baliuag (Bulacan) Church successfully completed the curriculum of Informatics Computer Diploma (ICD) major in Multimedia and the Internet with a Distinction Award at the Informatics Computer Institute, Malolos City as he ranked first among all 2006 graduates of ICI.

He shared the honor with fellow student from Makati Center, both earning a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.00 which is the highest at ICI.

Comments from Our Readers and Web Surfers

"Greetings! Thanks you all for all the warm hospitality and fellowship extended to me. Thank you so much for sending me the Update from Philippines. It is always good to hear what God is doing over there and to pray for specific things. I thoroughly enjoyed the recent Missions Congress and learned quite a bit from it. I see there is lot of zeal and fire for God’s work – to spread the gospel and disciple believers even in the “ends of the earth”. We sure have a lot to learn from you all. I hope to come to Philippines more often. Keep up the good work and God bless you all bountifully." --Name Withheld

Erratum: Robert Ferrer and wife, Judylyn, are helping in the local church of the Worldwide Church of God in Austria (not Germany). They minister to the needs of about 30,000 Filipinos there. {Bobby, thank you for the corrections!) --Tessie Uadan

For comments, suggestions, to submit and share an article,  to subscribe or unsubscribe, write to Len.Joson@wcg.org. These updates can also be accessed and viewed at www.wcg.org/ph.  WCG - Philippines: National Office Address: #60 Matahimik St., Teachers Village, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines. Telephone No. (632) 426-22-94. When sending articles, please send preferably in  text format only and photos as attached files in jpg format.

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you." (2 Thessalonians 3:1)